Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Laika’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Laika’, characterized by its numerous small inflorescences without ray florets; freely branching growth habit; early flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Chrysanthemum ajaniapacificum cultivar Laika.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum ajania pacificumand referred to by the name ‘Laika’.

The new Chrysanthemum is the product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Staden-Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium. Theobjective of the breeding program is to develop new cultivars ofChrysanthemum ajania pacificum with unique inflorescence forms,attractive ray and disc coloration and little to no pollen.

The new Chrysanthemum originated from a open-pollination made by theInventor in October, 2000, in Staden-Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium, of theChrysanthemum ajania pacificum cultivar Zarros Rose, not patented, asthe female, or seed, parent with an unknown Chrysanthemum selection, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within theprogeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment inStaden-Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings inStaden-Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium has shown that the unique features ofthis new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Laika has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Laika’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Laika’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Numerous small inflorescences without ray florets; typically grown asa spray type.

2. Freely branching growth habit.

3. Early flowering response.

4. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, the cultivar Zarros Rose. In side-by-side comparisons conductedin Staden-Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium, plants of the new Chrysanthemumdiffered from plants of the cultivar Zarros Rose in the followingcharacteristics:

1. Natural flowering date for plants of the new Chrysanthemum was aboutfour to five weeks later than natural flowering date for plants of thecultivar Zarros Rose.

2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had yellow-colored inflorescenceswhereas plants of the cultivar Zarros Rose had pink-coloredinflorescences.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can also be compared to plants of thecultivar Silver and Gold, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Staden-Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium, plants of the newChrysanthemum differed from plants of the cultivar Silver and Gold inthe following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more rounded than plants of thecultivar Silver and Gold.

2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and plants of the cultivar Silver andGold differed in leaf coloration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Laika’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view ofthe lower and upper surfaces of typical leaves (top) and typicalinflorescences (bottom) of ‘Laika’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown during the spring in Staden-Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium, undercommercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initiallygiven long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long nighttreatments to induce flower initiation and development. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures were about 15° C. and nighttemperatures were about 13° C. Plants were about four months fromplanting into 13-cm containers when the photographs and the descriptionwere taken.

Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum ajania pacificum cultivar Laika.

Commercial classification: Chrysanthemum without ray florets typicallygrown as a spray-type potted plant.

Parentage:

Female or seed parent.—Chrysanthemum ajania pacificum cultivar ZarrosRose, not patented.

Male or pollen parent.—Unknown selection of Chrysanthemum ajaniapacificum, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.

Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 10 days at 25° C.

Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 12 days at 20° C.

Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 14 days at 25° C.

Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 21 days at 20° C.

Root description.—Fine, fibrous, and freely branching; white in color.

Plant description:

Appearance.—Herbaceous potted Chrysanthemum typically grown as a spraytype. Stems upright and outwardly spreading; plants with rounded crown.Freely branching with lateral branches potentially developing at everynode; pinching is not required; dense and full plants.

Plant height.—About 22 cm.

Plant width.—About 26 cm.

Lateral branches.—Length: About 7 to 12 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146D.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 2 to 5 cm.Width: About 1.5 to 5.5 cm. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin:Palmately lobed. Texture: Upper and lower surfaces pubescent; veinsprominent on lower surface. Color: Developing foliage, upper surface:137A. Developing foliage, lower surface: 191A. Fully expanded foliage,upper surface: 147A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 191A.Venation, upper surface: 146B. Venation, lower surface: 191B. Petiolelength: About 0.5 to 1.5 cm. Petiole diameter: About 1 mm. Petiolecolor: 137C.

Inflorescence description:

Appearance.—Inflorescences without ray florets. Inflorescences borne onterminals above foliage. Disk florets develop acropetally on acapitulum. Slightly fragrant. Typically grown as a spray-type.

Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plants flower in Septemberin the Northern Hemisphere. At other times of the year, inflorescenceinitiation and development can be induced under short day/long nightconditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Early flowering; plantsexposed to long day/short night conditions followed by photoinductiveshort day/long night conditions flower about 53 days later.

Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good color andsubstance for about four weeks in an interior environment.

Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering, about five to sixinflorescences develop per lateral stem.

Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Shape:Ovoid. Color: 144A to 144B.

Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 9 mm. Depth (height): About 6 mm.

Ray florets.—None observed.

Disc florets.—Arrangement: Massed at center of receptacle. Shape:Tubular. Apex: Five-pointed. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 0.7 mm.Number of disc florets per inflorescence: About 100. Color: Immature:145C to 145B. Mature: Close to 12A.

Peduncles.—Length: About 1 to 2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle: About35° from vertical. Strength: Wiry, flexible. Texture: Smooth; glabrous.Color: 146D.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets. Anther color:7A. Pollen color: 15A. Gynoecium: Present on disc florets.

Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common toChrysanthemums has not been observed on plants grown under commercialgreenhouse conditions.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plantnamed ‘Laika’, as illustrated and described.